FDA proposes new infant formula nutrient limits; prone positioning and oscillation fail in pediatric ARDS; FDA authorizes 24 Velo pouches

• FDA Oct 29, 2026
  FDA proposes new iodine, manganese and vitamin A and D limits for infant formula in first phase of nutrient review
  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a proposed rule on Oct. 29 on eight of 30 required infant formula nutrients, the first phase of what it calls its most thorough nutrient review since 1998. It would raise the iodine minimum to 15 µg/100 kcal from 5 µg and cut the maximum to 50 µg from 75 µg, raise the vitamin D minimum to 2 µg from 1 µg, lower the vitamin A ceiling and set a first manganese maximum of 50 µg/100 kcal. The FDA said current formulas remain safe; comments run 120 days from Federal Register publication.
  Sources: FDA, Contemporary Pediatrics
• Research Oct 31, 2026
  Prone positioning and oscillatory ventilation do not add ventilator-free days in pediatric respiratory distress in PROSpect
  PROSpect, a phase 3 trial in The Lancet's Oct. 31 issue, randomized 424 of 600 planned patients aged 2 weeks to 20 years with early moderate-to-severe pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome at 75 pediatric intensive care units in 18 countries before stopping for futility and slow enrollment. Ventilator-free days through day 28, the primary end point, did not differ significantly: median 17.9 prone versus 17.4 supine, and 17.3 with high-frequency oscillatory ventilation versus 18.0 with conventional ventilation. Stage 2 or worse pressure injuries affected 6% prone versus 1% supine. The authors said routine use of either strategy is not recommended.
  Sources: The Lancet, PubMed
• FDA Oct 30, 2026
  FDA authorizes 24 Velo nicotine pouch products in flavors including lime, passion fruit and cinnamon
  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized marketing of 24 Velo Mini Pouch products through the premarket tobacco product application pathway, all listed as containing 4 mg of nicotine, in flavors including crema, lime, orange crema, passion fruit and cinnamon. The FDA said its review included carefully considering the risks to youth and nonusers, that the products are for adults 21 and older who use tobacco, and that all three packaging types are child-resistant. Thomas Carr of the American Lung Association said authorized flavored products are "clearly hooking youth and young adults," according to Healio.
  Sources: FDA, Healio
• Public health Oct 30, 2026
  U.S. measles cases reach 4,852 in 2026 as of Oct. 29, with 96% tied to outbreaks and three deaths, CDC says
  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 4,852 confirmed measles cases in the U.S. in 2026 as of Oct. 29, in an update posted Oct. 30. There have been 43 new outbreaks in 2026, and 96% of confirmed cases (4,666 of 4,852) are outbreak-associated, according to the CDC. The agency lists three deaths for the year.
  Source: CDC
• Research Oct 27, 2026
  Pediatric residents have lower first-attempt intubation success than EM residents in 1,404 pediatric ED intubations
  In a multicenter retrospective study of intubations from January 2021 to December 2023 in the National Emergency Airway Registry for Pediatric Emergency Medicine, 642 of 1,404 encounters (48%) were primary intubations by trainees, according to Annals of Emergency Medicine. First-attempt success was 75% for emergency medicine residents, 74% for pediatric emergency medicine fellows and 58% for pediatric residents, who made 45 of the first attempts. After adjustment, pediatric residents had lower first-attempt success than emergency medicine residents (adjusted odds ratio 0.41, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.82) and more adverse airway outcomes (adjusted odds ratio 2.14, 95% CI 1.08 to 4.27).
  Source: Annals of Emergency Medicine
• Research Oct 27, 2026
  Preschool physical activity policy does not raise children's activity in cluster trial of 124 Stockholm preschools
  A pragmatic cluster randomized trial in 124 public preschools in Stockholm with 3,751 children compared a cocreated six-month physical activity policy with usual practice, according to JAMA Network Open. The difference in change in moderate to vigorous activity was 0.3 minutes per preschool day (95% CI -0.7 to 1.3; P = .57), not significant. The policy did not increase children's activity beyond usual practice after six months, the authors wrote.
  Source: JAMA Network Open

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